June 6 1979: a great day for the RNLAF: that day the first F-16’s were handed over to the air force. F-16B J-259 and F-16A J-212 which was ready three weeks before schedule. Mr A. van Wijlen (Fokker) handed the two first aircraft over to Mr B. Scheideman (General Dynamics) while Brig Gen James Abrahamson signed on behalf of the USAF. Finally Gen Maj H. Dieters signed as the proud owner of these machines.
The next day June 7 the J-259 left for his new home base Leeuwarden. Accompanied by two F-104’s and 2 NF5’s is was shown in a flyby to the eleven cities of Friesland first before landing… Piloted by Willem Sneek and in the backseat was Gen Maj Elkerbout commander of CTL. Overhead the home plate the F16 pulled up vertically and gave a great show afterwards to impress the 5000 crowd on the ground. After several speeches the aircraft was again handed over now to the base commander Kol Van Pul. The spectators enjoyed the J-259 standing between two really old-timers: a Farma and Nieuport XVII. A historical day said Elkerbout, the same words were used this week with the arrival of the first two F-35’s a new era has started…
Leeuwarden June7 1979 historical day the first F-16B arrives
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GerritsFinest
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Leeuwarden June7 1979 historical day the first F-16B arrives
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bvdboomen
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Re: Leeuwarden June7 1979 historical day the first F-16B arr
Thank you for conforming what I always have known from my youngest years (12-13): the J-259 being the very first F16 handed over to the RNLAF.
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frank kramer
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Re: Leeuwarden June7 1979 historical day the first F-16B arr
Nostalgia... black nose, large roundels, small stabilisers...
The fun thing about the arrival was told in the dvd on the Dutch F-16's: MoD PR-people wanted the crew to wear orange flightsuits as this would look good, but the RNethAF doesn't have orange flighsuits... So they were borrowed from the RNeth Naval Air Service at Valkenburg just for the occasion
37 years almost to the day... time does indeed fly (F-16!)
The fun thing about the arrival was told in the dvd on the Dutch F-16's: MoD PR-people wanted the crew to wear orange flightsuits as this would look good, but the RNethAF doesn't have orange flighsuits... So they were borrowed from the RNeth Naval Air Service at Valkenburg just for the occasion
37 years almost to the day... time does indeed fly (F-16!)
Frank Kramer
Always going forward... still can't find reverse!
Always going forward... still can't find reverse!
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Alpha Kilo One
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Re: Leeuwarden June7 1979 historical day the first F-16B arr
So. They are not allowed to fly over centers of Utrecht, Rotterdam and Antwerp! 
Anyway, thanks for this contribution. I like your posts!
Anyway, thanks for this contribution. I like your posts!
"Nix bliev wie it es"
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Stephan Lodewijks
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